Tigers book semi spot
Leicester ran-in four tries against Sale to earn them the victory they required to reach the semi-finals of the EDF Energy Cup.
Last Updated: 30/11/07 10:01pm
Leicester ran-in four tries against Sale to earn them the victory they required to reach the semi-finals of the EDF Energy Cup.
Johnny Murphy, Dan Hipkiss, Tom Varndell and Tom Croft all made light of the poor conditions to set up a 32-8 success at Welford Road on Friday night.
The Sharks came into the tie in good form but were instantly playing catch-up when Murphy was put over in the corner by Geordan Murphy after good work by Andy Goode, who then added the extras.
Luke McAlister trimmed the deficit with a penalty but the Tigers' superior kicking game kept them in control, and a good chance went begging when Goode's kick through was just too long for the earlier try-scorer.
Seven point lead
However, Goode soon made amends with a penalty just before the break to send the Tigers in with a seven-point lead.
His attempted drop goal six minutes after the interval evaded the posts but Leicester didn't have to wait long before extending the lead further.
Sam Vesty's jinking run had the visitors back-pedalling and after several phases of play Goode supplied the pass that sent Hipkiss over between the uprights.
Goode's conversion made it 17-3 but Sale kept themselves in the game when an overlap was created on the left with McAlister diving over in the corner.
But the match was Leicester's to lose and they had a third try denied them when referee Chris White deemed Goode's offload to Varndell went forward - but once again the fly-half extended the lead with a penalty on 67 minutes.
Once more in the thick of the action, Goode intercepted McAlister's chip on his own 22, raced to the halfway line before sending Varndell clear to score the decisive try.
Croft then rounded off the scoring in injury time as the Tigers ran out comfortable winners.